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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Medical Symptoms > Constipation: Prevention & Expectations
      Category : Health Centers > Digestive System

Constipation

Constipation | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring | Attribution


What can be done to prevent the condition?

The best way for a person to prevent this condition is to:

  • exercise regularly
  • eat a healthy, high-fiber diet that includes fresh vegetables and fruits
  • regularly practice relaxation that also relaxes the bowel
  • drink plenty of water, especially in hot weather
  • limit foods that have little or no fiber, such as ice cream, meat, chips, and pre-packaged frozen dinners
  • limit caffeine, alcohol, and sodas, as they tend to dry out the stool
  • listen to his or her body and allow enough time to have a bowel movement
  • check if any drugs he or she is taking cause constipation
  • What are the long-term effects of the condition?

    The longer the fecal residue sits in the colon, the harder the stool becomes and the more difficult it is to pass. This also means that the colon is exposed to the chemicals in these waste products for a longer time. The long-term effects of chronic constipation can include:

  • swelling of the bowel, sometimes with pain in the belly
  • colon cancer
  • What are the risks to others?

    There are no risks to others.


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    Constipation: Diagnosis & Tests

     

    Constipation: Treatment & Monitoring

    Author: Dr. Karen Wolfe, MBBS, MA
    Reviewer: Gail Hendrickson, RN, BS
    Date Reviewed: 08/09/01









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    Page Last Updated: 30th May, 2006